Basic Introduction to Fengjie Navel Orange
Fengjie navel orange is a specialty product of Fengjie County, Chongqing City, and a geographical indication product of China. The cultivation of citrus in Fengjie County dates back to the Han Dynasty, with a long history. The production area is located in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, which has three ecological advantages for citrus cultivation: no typhoons, no frost damage, and no quarantine pests. The introduction and cultivation of locally selected mid-season varieties such as “Fengjie Navel Orange” (72-1) and late-season navel oranges (95-1) make this region one of the few special ecological zones for navel oranges in the world.
Nutritional Value
According to tests conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture's Citrus Seedling Quality Monitoring and Testing Center, the shape index of Fengjie navel oranges is 0.98, with a single fruit weight ranging from 185 to 250 grams, 50% juice content, and 72% edible portion. The flesh is crisp and tender, easy to chew, with 9.74 grams of sugar, 0.72 grams of citric acid, and 47.9 milligrams of vitamin C per 100 milliliters of juice. The soluble solids content is 11.6%, with a sugar-to-acid ratio of 13.5:1, maturing in late November. Due to Fengjie County being in a selenium-rich area, fresh fruits contain substances similar to the functional ingredient SOD found in “Dabao,” which may have special health benefits.
Product Characteristics
The Fengjie navel orange has a short elliptical or spherical shape, with an orange to deep orange peel. Its transverse diameter ranges from 70 to 90 millimeters, and its single fruit weight is between 180 and 250 grams. The navel is mostly closed, with open navels having a diameter less than 1.5 centimeters, and when open, it folds inward in a wheel-like pattern. The peel is medium-thick, crisp, and easy to peel, while the flesh is fine, tender, seedless, with little fiber, moderately acidic and sweet, juicy and refreshing, with a pleasant aftertaste. Fresh fruits begin to enter the market from late November.
Historical Folklore
Fengjie County is an old production area of citrus that is famous worldwide, with a cultivation history dating back to the Han Dynasty (3rd century BC to 3rd century AD). According to “The Book of Han, Geography,” “There was an official in charge of citrus in Yufu, Quren.” “The Book of Han” states, “Grapefruit is produced throughout the province, but only those from Kuizhou are fragrant and sweet enough to be edible.” “The New Book of Tang” records, “In Kuizhou, citrus is offered as a local tribute.” When the poet Du Fu lived in Kuizhou, he managed a citrus garden and wrote the lines “When the garden citrus ripens, it is worth its weight in gold.” In the autumn of 1953, the Fengjie Horticultural Field introduced two Washington navel orange saplings from the Sichuan Fruit Research Institute (Jiangjin) and planted them in Caotang Orchard. In 1972, the Sichuan Province Citrus Breeding Collaborative Group selected high-quality and productive “Fengyuan 72-1” navel orange bud sport mutants from the introduced plants. After eight years of observation and identification, it was determined that their genetic traits were stable, and in 1979, they won the third prize for scientific and technological progress in Sichuan Province. “The Wanxian Daily” published a news article titled “Today's Baidi City,” and since then, the Fengjie navel orange has become as well-known as Baidi City. In 2000, the Chongqing Crop Variety Approval Committee officially named the “Fengyuan 72-1” strain as “Fengjie Navel Orange.”
Awards and Honors for Fengjie Navel Oranges
Since the production of “Fengjie Navel Oranges,” they won the certificate for quality fruit and the Golden Bull trophy from the Ministry of Agriculture in 1985 and 1989.
In 1995, together with its companion varieties (Fengjie Pona, Fengjie Lina, Fengjie Newhall), it won the gold medal at the Second China International Agricultural Exposition.
In 1999, the Caotang brand “91 Navel Orange” from the Fengjie County Horticultural Field and the “Xinfengshi” navel orange from the Changjiang Midstream and Upriver Fruit Development Company of Fengjie County were recognized as “Brand Products” by the China International Agricultural Exposition.
In 2000-2001, the “Fenghuang Jiedu” brand Fengjie navel oranges from Revival Fruit Industry Technology Co., Ltd. were recognized as “Chongqing Famous Fruits,” “Chongqing Brand Products,” and “Brand Products” of the China International Agricultural Exposition.
The “Fengjie Fresh” brand of Fengjie navel oranges launched by Chongqing Gold Mountain Agriculture Co., Ltd. participated in the Second Chongqing Famous Agricultural Products Exhibition and Sales Fair for the first time and received a certificate for quality fruit from the Ministry of Agriculture's Citrus Seedling Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Testing Center.
Seller Information
Fengjie Caotang Navel Orange Orchard
Orchard Address: Team 8, Ouying Village, Caotang Town, Fengjie County
WeChat/Phone of Grower: 13696906693
Fengjie Navel Orange Grower QQ Group: 105580966